Refrigerating system



w'..||. CARRIER' RE'FRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed April s, 1921 *Mmm ,1926.1,575,819 Y Y -w. H. CARRIER -4 REFRIGERATING SYSTEMl Filed April 5,1921 s sheetsfsheet 2 ,4 rra/@V575 March 9 192.6.

W. H. CARRIER REFRIGERATING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 5, 1921//v VIA/70A? A fr0/WYE K5.

Fao

l Patented Mar. .9, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,575,819 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIE E. cA'RRIERoE NEW YORK, N..Y., AssIeNoR To CARRIER ENGINEERINGOOR- EORATION, OE NEW YORK, N. Y.

REFRIGERATING SYSTEM.

Application led April 5, 1921. Serial No. l5-8,680.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIS H. CARRIER, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented a new and use eth lchloride, is employed as therefrigerant an the vaporized refrigerant is withdrawn' from theevaporator or cooler in' which the refrigerant is vaporized anddelivered at a higher temperature to a vapor condenser by a centrifugalcompressorl which acts .by centrifugal force to `maintain a differencein pressure inthe evaporator and condenser.

One ofthe objects of this invention is to produce a practical andefficient refrigerating system of this sort in Which the reduction intemperature is produced by the direct expansion or vaporizationoftherefrigerant, and the cooled refrigerant is circulated through a coil orpi e circulating system which can be utilized or refrigerating water orbrine, as bunker coils for cooling rooms,

' or in anyother way by which the cooled refrigeratl-ng mediumcirculating through the coils or pipes can be utilized for coolingpurposes. Such a system has the great advantage that the evaporator yorchamber -in which the refrigerant liquid-is vaporized for lowering itstemperature can be of compar- `atively small size and simpleconstruction,

avoiding the necessity for the tubes or other heat-transmltting surfacesand connectlons 'such as are required in systems in which therefrigerant is vaporized by heat abstracted from brine or other liquidwhich is being cooled and is circulated through the evaporator. In the`present system, refrigerant liquid is discharged under pressure againsta turbine, Pelton wheel or rotary device which finely atomizes therefrigerant and insures a complete, rapidl vaporization and cooling ofthe saine. The power developed by the impact of the jet or jets ofrefrigerant discharged against the turbine or Pelton wheel is utilizedto supplement the driving motor for the pump that circulates therefrigerant through the refrigerating coil or piping so that only asmall motor for the pump is necessary.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical'seotional elevation of a refrigerating apparatusembodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevatio of the upper end of the liquidseal for the pump shaft.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3,

- Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation thereof on vline 4 4, Fig. 1.-

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale, of the evaporator.

A represents the evaporator or chamber in which the refrigerant isvaporized, B a condenser and C a centrifugal fan, compressor lorexhauster which exhausts the vaporized refrigerant fromlthe evaporatorand delivers it at a higher pressure to the condenser. 'lhe vaporizedrefrigerant is liquiiied in the condenser and the liquied refrigerantreturned to the evaporator or expansion chamber. A pump E circulates theliquid refrigerant collecting in the evaporator or expansion chamber,and which has been cooled by the vaporization orexpansion, through oneor more refrigerating coils F or a closed pipe circuit and againdischarges the liquid into the evaporator.

The condenser' B and the compressor C for exhausting the vaporizedrefrigerant from the evaporator and delivering it to the condenser maybe constructed and arranged in any suitable manner. .Preferably thearrangement is substantially as disclosed lin my application for patentabove mentioned. The condenser is arranged horizontally and serves as asupporting base for the centrifugal compressor and its driving motor.The fan or compressor (l is arranged with its axis of rotationhorizontally, and the casing thereof is mounted on the condenser. Amultiple stage contrifugal fan or compressor is shown, and isconstructed and operates in a `wel-l known manner, described in saidapplication, the vapor passing through the several rotors and thecompartments formf ing the successive stages of the compressor and beingdelivered from the last stage to vent leakage into or out of thecompressor there is no 'possibility of leakage through.

the opening around the compressor shaft at this end of the compressor.Leakage of vapor from or air into. the compressor casing at its oppositeend, where it is necessary for the shaft to be exposed for connectionwith thedriving motor, is prevented by a suitable stuffing box H. Thisstuiing box should -be of some suitable construction adapted toprewithout causing substantial friction when the compressor is inoperation, and also to eifect a tight closure of the shaft opening whenthe compressor is not running. Preferably a stuffing box of theconstruction described in said applicationis employed.

The -condenser shown is of known con struction, consisting vof oppositeheads 5 and 6 connected by horizontal flow tubes for the condensingwater or medium, which tubes are enclosed within a casing 7 connectingthe two heads. The water or condensing medium is admitted'to the head5through a supply connection 8 and flows through the tubes below atransverse partition 9 Iin the head 5, and thence passes through theother head 6 and remaining tubes back to the head 5, from which itdischarges through a discharge pipe or connection 10., The refrigerantvapor is condensed in the condenser by contact with the tubes and theliquefied refrigerant ,which collects in the bottom of the condenser isreturned by the di'erence in pressure in the eva orator and condenserthrough a pipe 11 to t e evaporator, in the bottom of which it collects.The liquefied refrigerant expands in discharging from the pipe 11 intothe evaporator, thus causing a reduction in the temperature. The,

discharge from the pipe 11 into the evaporator is preferably controlledby a float-actuated valve 12 for maintaining Ya redetermined, desiredlevel of the liquid in the evaporator. This float-operated 'valve may beof any suitableknown construction. .Ars

shown, the float 13 is of segmental, annular form and arranged in theevaporator chamber between the cylindrical wall of the latter and a pumpand turbine supporting l frame suspended centrally in the chamber.-

The evaporator or vaporizing chamberfis preferably formed by an upright,`stationary, cylindrical casing 14. The refrigerant circulating pump Eand a turbine or atomizpin v4wheel I are mounted in this chamber preerably on 4a skeleton frame or cage 15 which is suspended in the casing14 from suitable supports at the upper part of the casing or isotherwise removably secured in I the casing so that the frame withthepump and other parts mounted thereon can be readily secured in anddetached andnlifted vertically out of the stationary 'casing 14. Asshown, the pump E is arranged horizontally in thebot'tom of theevaporator casing with its rotor secured to the lower end of a shaft 16which extends vertically centrally through the evaporator casing and'out through a shaft opening in the top or cover of the casing. As'shown,this shaft is journalled at its lower Aend in a suitable bearing 17 onthe lower end of the frame 15 and at its upper end in a `bearing 18suitably mounted on to of the stationary casing. The pump sha 16 issuitably coupled to -the shaft of a small driving motor 19 which ispreferably suitably mounted on top of the stationary casing in such away as not to interfere with the releasing and removal of` the pumpsupporting frame 15 out of the upper end of the evaporator casing.v

It is necessary to prevent`leakage of air vinto the evaporator` casingor -the loss of vacuum through the opening through whichl the pump shaftextends'out through the top of the casing. In order to accomplish thiswithout the use of a stuffing b'ox or gland, which in order to be gastight would create undue friction on the revolving shaft, the

pump and turbine or refrigerant atomizer are mounted in the evaporatorchamber and a liquid seal -fprovided for the shaft opening in the top othe casing, preferably -by the following construction:

The turbine wheel I is fixed lon the lower portion of the shaft 16 abovethe pum with a driving fit or otherwise so'as to orm al gas tight jointwith the shaft.v Surrounding the shaft above the turbine wheel is asleeve 4 or tube 25 provided at its lower end with a between thecontacting faces of the disk 27 and turbine wheel'is made gas ti' htinany preferred manner, as for instance y suitable packing gaskets 30seated in grooves beg tween the contacting faces and between the disk 27andthe shoulder 28 on the shaft.v

The sleeve or tube .25 is of larger internal diameter than the portionof the shaft which Y it surrounds thus leaving an annular space in thesleeve around the shaft. Extendin lengthwise in this space is astationary sea ing tube 32 which'divides the space into nar- 'row innerand outer annularsealing cells 33 and 34.` This sealing tube 32 issecured at its upper end to the lower end of a tube 35 which isbrazed-or otherwise secured by a gas tight joint the opening 36 in thetop of the The sealing cel1sl33 and 34 are of s y al mercury columnpreferably adapted to extend around the' lower end of the sealing tube32 and toa height of at least 32 Ainches in the outer sealing cell 34. Amercury seal is thus formedadapted to maintain a substantially perfectvacuum within the evaporator casing. The lower end of the sealing tube32 is preferably flared or provided with a flange 37 which extendsoutwardly into an annular enlargement 37 in the -bore of the sleeve 25.'An expansion chamber 38 or enlargement lof' the upper end of the outersealing cell 34 isl formed preferably-by a removable cap 38 screwed onthe upper end of the sleeve 25. Secured on the lower end ofthe tube 35is a stationarycollar provided -with blades 39 which project outwardlyinto the expansiony chamber 38. The joint between the cap 38L and theupper end of-the outer sleeve y25 is made tight by a packing gasket ofany suitable rt ,'When the pump sha is in rotation the centrifugalaction of the body of mercury in the rotating chamber formed by thesleeve 25, and the difference in pressure in the viner and outer sealingcells causes themercu y columnto inthe outer chamber 34 to a heightdepending upon the vacuum' or di'erence in pressure within and outsideof the evaporator casing.` The ve chamber 38 at the top of the seahngcelll provides, an enlarged lspace in which the mercury can collectincase it rises above the top of the -outer cell, andthe stationaryblades 39 in this chamber impede the rotation of the mercury in the'.chamber and prevent the mercury from being 'thrown out of the chamber bycentrifugal force. F

lThe sleeve 25, which rotates with the pump shaft 16 .and turbine wheel,is preferably" journaled in suitable upper and vlower antifrictionbearin s 40 and 41 which are supportedby sp1 ers' or snpports 42 andj43respectively, projecting inwardly from the skeleton supporting frame 15in the evaporator casing. Since the sealing -sleeve 25 is rigid with theump shaft 15, the latter is in part supporte and steadied in itsrotation by said bearings 40 land 41. The bearinvs 40 and 41 arepreferably combined'radialand thrust ball bearings,- eachv constructedand mounted as follows:v The outerl race ring of the bearing is seatedin a recess in-a cup or shell 46 and the inner race ring is secured ona' supporting collar 47 which is secured to the rotary sealing sleeve25v and extends down into the shell 46. The inner race 'rin'v is seatits lower end and a nut 48 screwed on the collar,v and the collar is'securedat 'its upper end on the sleeve 25 b'etween a shoulder 49thereon anda nut 50`screwed on a threaded portion of the sleeve. Thesupporting collar 47 for the lower bearing 41 and its securing-nut areoflarge enough diameter to be slipped into place on the shaft andremoved over the securing shoulder for the.v

supporting collar 47 for the upperbearing.

The vshells 46 of thepper and Alower* bearings are bolted or otherwiseremovably secured on their supports 42 and 43'and the l shell of thelower bearing is of an external diameter, small enough to be insertedandremoved through the opening inJ the support 42 for the upperbearing', thus enabling tne readyassembling and disassembling ofthe Theskeleton frame or cage 15 can be of any suitable construction -adaptedtoafford the necessary support and rigidity for the bearings for tli'epump shaft.v vThe frame is, however, as before mentioned, preferablykconstructed so that it, with the pump, turses bine and other partssupported thereby can be y)inserted into and lifted out-of theevaporator casing 14 through the open upper end thereof and be removablysecured withinthe casing, while at the same time the necessary gas tightclosure for'the upper end ofwthe casing is providedl As shown, thesupporting framepl is provided at it'supper end with an outwardlyprojecting annular flange 55 which rests upon and isremovably bolted toan internal flange or shoulder 56 on the stationary casing 14. The jointbetween the flanges` '55 and 56 is sealed. or madepgas `tight in anysuitable manner, as for example, by means of packing gaskets 57,compressed infgrooves between the contacting .y faces of the flanges 55and 56. The upper end 458 of`the frame 15,. which is annular and formsin part the top of the evaporator casing, is provided with a removablecover `or sealing head 59 in which the hole 36 through which the pumpshaft passes is formed. This'head is bolted or otherwise removablysecured on the top^58 of the frame 15 and the joint between the head andframe sealed by suitable packing gaskets or other suitablesealing-means. The cover is provided on the top thereofwith an upwarcbly projecting lflange 60 urrounding the pump shaft opening 36 andforming a well within the flange around the shaft. This flange or wellis provided for the purpose of enabling the evaporator casing to besubmerged in a sealing liquid contained in an' outer jacket or casing 61with the sealing liquid at a level below the top of the flange. or Well60 so as to prevent the sealing liquid fflrlornt entering the mercuryseal for the pump s a cured on 4the collar 47 between a s oulder' Thepump E, which draws the refrigerant 130 f liquid from the bottom o f theevaporator casing 14, delivers the liquid through a discharge pipe 62 tothe refrigerating or bunker coil or coils F, and after circulatingthrough the coil or other circulating system, the liquid is returnedthrough a pipeG and discharges under pressure through one or.

more suitable nozzles 64 against the turbine or atonuzmg wheel I whichthoroiqghlyv atomizes the refrigerant and causes a rapid power thusdeveloped is utilized to supple-' ment the motor 19 in driving the pumpE,

so that only a comparatively small driving motor 19 for the pump isnecessary. 65 represents arr automatic relief valveV ot any suitableconstruction for thereturn pipe 63.' This valve is 'adapted to be openedby pres-v sure in-the refrigerant circulating system, when apredetermined maximum pressure is reached so as thereby vto prevent backpressure in thecirculating system. this relief valve is placed in abranch GG of the return pipe, and this branch pipeis rovided with anozzle arranged to discharge against the turbine wheel l'. Any vapor orliquid discharging through the relief valve is thus utilized in drivingthe turbine wheel. The boiling point ofthe refrigerant liquid .used atatmospheric pressure is always above any. natural atmos#4 pherietemperatures. .'lherefore, no vapor is formed in tlie refrigerating coilor circulating system. The cooling coil is operated at low pressure,preferably not above one or two pounds pressure.

Then the r'efrigerating coil F is used in a cooler for cooling a.liqui-d such as water, as illustrated in the drawings, an automaticcontrol is preferably employed for preventing possible freezing of thewater. For this purpose a vapor pressure thermostat 37 is shown in thewater discharge pipe (3dv of the' cooler, said thermostat beingoperatively connected to a thermostati'c valve G9 in the refrigerantreturn pipe 63. If the temperature of the `water drops below the degreefor which the thermostat is set, the valve (39 will be actuated to stopor reduce the circulation of the refrigerant through the coil F and thusprevent further reduction in the tmnperature ofv the water I claim as myinvention: r

l. In a refrigerating system employing a volatile liquid refrigerant,the combination of a vaporizing chamber, a condenser for the vaporizedrefrigerant, a, centrifugal compressor which delivers the refrigerantvaP Preferably..

chamber whereby it rapidly expands and lowers the temperature in saidchamber' by direct expansion.v

2. In a refrigerating system inN which a volatile liquid refrigerant isemployed, the

combination of a vaporizing chamber, .a ro

tary wheel in said vaporizing chamber against which ajet of therefrigerant liquid is projected in a direction to rotate said `wheel andwhich atomizes the refrigerant liquid, a condenser including means forlcondensing the refrigerant vapor, a compressor which withdraws therefrigerant vapor from the vaporizing chamber and delivers it to thecondenser, a refrigerating coil, 'means for delivering the liquidrefrigerant from the condenser to said'vaporizing chamber, and a pumpwhich circulates the liquefied refrigerant through said coil .anddischarges the same against said wheel, said pump being located in theva poiizing chamber and connected to saidwheel so that the powerproduced by the rotation of saidl wheel is utilized in driving saidpump.'

3. In a refrigerating system in which a volatile liquid refrigerantis'employed, the combination ofa vaporizing chamber, a refrigeratingcoil, a pump which draws refrigerant liquid from said vaporizingchamber, circulates it through said coil and discharges it into thevaporizing chamber, a 'wheel in the vaporizing chamber which is rotatedby said discharging refrigerant liquid and atomizes the refrigerant,said wheel having a driving connection with said. pump, a condenserincluding means for Vcondensing the vaporized refrigerant, means fordelivering vaporized refrigerant from the vaporizing chamber t'othecondenser, and means for returning liquefiedA refrigerant from thecondenser to the vaporizing chamber.

4. In a refrigerating system in which a vvolatile liquid refrigerant isemployed, the combination of a vaporizing chamber, a lrefrigeratingcoil, a pump which draws refrigerant liquid from said vaporizingchamber, circulates it through said coil and discharges it into thevaporizing chamber, a motor for driving said pump, a Wheel in the4'aporizing chamber which is rotated by and means for 'returningliquefied refrig erant from the condenser to the vaporizing v l ychamber.

5. In a refrigerating system in which a 'volatileliquid refrigerant isemployed, the combination of a vaporizing chamber, a refrigerating.coil, a pump which draws refrigerant liquid from said vaporizingchamber, circulates it through said coil and discharges it into thevaporizing chamber, a Wheel in the vaporizing chamber which is rotatedby said discharging refrigerant liquid and atomizes the refrigerant, abranch discharge pipe connected to said refrigerating coil and arrangedto discharge the revaporizing chamber through said coil and frlgerantagainst said wheel, and a relief valve in said `branch pipe which isopened by a predetermined pressure of the refrigerant and permitsvdischarge vfrom said branch pipe, a condenser including vmeans forcondensing the vaporized "refrigerant, means for delivering vaporizedrefrigerant from the vaporizing chamber to the condenser, and means forreturning liquefied refrigerant from the condenser to the vaporizingchamber.

6. .In a refrigerating system employing a volatile liquid vrefrigeranthaving a low vapor pressure and a high specific density, the combinationof a vaporizing chamber, a condenser for the vaporized refrigerant, acentrifugal compressor which delivers the refrigerant vapor from thevaporizing chamber to the condenser and maintains a relatively lowdifference of pressures in the vaporizing chamber and in the condenser,means for returning the liquefied refrigerant from the -condenser to thevaporizing chamber, a refrigerating coil, means for circulating theliquid .refrigerant from the discharging it in the vaporizing chamber ina :linely divided condition whereby itl rapidly expands and lowers thetemperature in said chamber by direct expansion, and a'regulator whichautomatically regulates the .quantity of the circulated liquidrefrigerant discharged into the vaporizing chamber independently ofchanges 1n speed of the liquid circulating means to control therefrigeration.

l?. In a refrigerating system employing a volatile liquid refrigeranthavinga low vapor pressure and a high specific density,

the combination of a vaporizing chamber,

a condenser for the vaporized refrigerant,

a centrifugal compressor which delivers the refrigerant vapor from thevaporizing l Ychamber to the condenser and maintains a relatively lowdifference of pressures in the vaporizing chamber and in the condenser,

means for returning the liquefied refrigerant l from the condenser tothe vaporizing chamber, a refrigeratin coil, means for circulating theliquid re rigerant from the vaporizing chamber through saidcoil anddischarging it in the vaporizing chamber in a finely divided' conditionwhereby it rapidly expands and lowers the temperature in said chamber bydirect expansiomg.

and means operating automatically under the control of the temperatureproduced` by the circulating refrigerant for regulating the quantity ofthe liquid refrigerant discharged into the vaporizing chamber to controlthe rcfri eration. A

8. In a re rigerating system in which a volatile liquid refrigerant isemployed, the combination of a vaporizing chamber, means for causing therefrigerant to vaporize in said chamber and lower the temperature insaid chamber by direct expansion of the refrigerant, a condenserincluding means for condensing the refrigerant vapor, means fordelivering vaporized refrigerant from the vaporizing chamber to' thecondenser and maintaining a pressure below atmospheric pressure in thevaporizing chamber, a refrigerating coil, and a pump which circulatesthe liquid refrigerant through said coil and returns it to thevaporizing chamber, said pump being located in the vaporizing cham-'-ber and having a drive shaft extending out of said chamber through ashaft opening, a liquidv seal for said shaft opening, and a support onwhich said pump," shaft and liquid seal are mounted in the vaporizingchamber and which is removable from said chamber with said partsthereon. WILLIS H. CARRIER.

